Category Archives: maternityshare

Reversing Injuries – The Methods

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I am on the path to reversing injuries – both permanent and current. A topic I have been long been interested in. Recently I began reading about the work Tim Ferriss has done to rid himself of his past injuries – this has taken my interest to the next level. I have had an ankle injury since March 2012. It is now November 2012. That is too long. It affects way too much of my life to let it slide (well, any further. How have I let it go this long?!)

I have tried the following:

• RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) – Although not for a very long period of time and not consistently. I did not see enough improvement to inspire carrying on with this method. Also, I am to impatient. And, I have stuff to do. like get my kid to school and play with him and run after him on his bike. Then there is the housework. (If only I could eliminate that one… perhaps I will. To be continued…)

• Yoga – I think I may have furthered my injury because I really want to keep up with the class. I know I am supposed to be present with MY body and stay with my “edge”. Yoga is an incredible tool. I abuse it. So, after trying 2 classes I decided to stick with a home practice so that I can go at my own pace more easily. The only problem is that I don’t do it consistently. Far from it.

• Positive Thinking / The Law of Attraction- I even watched The Secret. I loved that movie …except for some of the strong personalities that made me cringe a little and these weird dramatizations that seemed out of place. I looked passed that though and it was well worth it. I highly recommended. Or maybe the book version would be easier to take.

Everything is possible, nothing is impossible. There are no limits. Whatever you can dream of can be yours.

Some of it can come off as cheesy or unbelievable but I chose to look past what doesn’t appeal because there are many treasures to be found. Just take this inspiration from Bruce Lee:

Absorb what is useful, Discard what is not, Add what is uniquely your own.

• Acupuncuture - I went to see an acupuncturist across the street from my apartment before I moved from Oakland to Palo Alto and he did this amazing almost torturous massage (in a hurts-so-good sort of way) then he used needles. I felt impressively improved after that visit but I did not return for the other 6-8 visits that he said he thought I would need because of the out-of-pocket expense of $50 a visit (The initial visit was $60). (They did not take credit cards so I could not use my HSA account funds.) In hindsight, I should have just paid the money. What he did for me was true healing. I am still kicking myself for that. Now he is about a 50 minute drive away. I could go back to see him. But I will try my new MD Doctor who also does acupuncture in San Francisco (also a 50 minute drive) for now. The co-pay is $25.
These have all helped but not nearly enough. So…
What next?
  • Try out my MD Dr in SF for acupuncture
  • Watch and try out some Egoscue exercises/therapies.
  • Read the book sitting on my bookshelf on another posture correcting technique called the Gokhale Method by Esther Gokhale “8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back”. I went to their free workshop. It was wonderful! Between that and the free chapter of her book that I initially got improved my well being and my body awareness.
  • I really want to try ART (Active Release Techniques) - deals with healing connective tissue stuff that is the root of a lot of body issues. Check this out. Amazing stuff.
  • As well as Advanced Muscle-Integration Therapy (AMIT) - deals with healing connective tissue stuff that is the root of a lot of body issues. Check this out. Amazing stuff here too.

Here I go. On my healing quest. I will document it in my blog. So stay tuned to find out more and let me know if you have any thoughts or ideas.

Let the Bird Fly: Fail = Flight.

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I am before my computer – figuring out what I am supposed to be doing. Living in fear. Trying not to fail. But this tactic has me spinning in circles and getting nowhere.

I am a mama. My little one is at gymnastics camp for four hours a day this week. That gives me a little time but, its an odd schedule. What do I do when I have time?

What is expected of me?

What do I want to do? DANCE, TEACH, YOGA, WRITE, SOCIAL GOOD. But how? Do people’s errands (ie. TaskRabbit), blog, post and promote myself, connect with people. There are lots of ways, actually.

Questions crop up in my head like:
Will these things make money? If I am going to do something worthwhile, something important then, that ought not be the focus. I will go by the “if you (passionately) build it they will come. Or, I will learn from what did not work and then build it again.
Will it be supportive of and accepted by my family? I still have a wee one. I have to care for him and consider him in everything I do. The most important think people can do for themselves and for one another is to first take care of themselves then, and only then, take care of others. Why? We are all role models for each other. Our happiness and power inspires people too.

So, what do people do when they struggle with an idea that keeps nagging at them? It goes something like this: I shouldn’t risk it. What if I fail. What will people say?

Scrap that. Because people need you to fail and to try again, and again, and again. That is how we learn. How we excel. Teach people how to do this and you are priceless.

Go fail. Failure brings us closer innovation and a pleasure in knowing we worked our asses off and did something, learned something, taught something to someone who deperately needed to learn how to go and fail in order to get somewhere.

If you don’t fail at LEAST once a day you’re not living up to your potential.

How can you reach out and learn something new, get somewhere closer to where you dearly want to be? How can you fail today?

Your “About” Page Really Needs an Update!

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I just realized that my “about” page for for this blog was about 5 years out of date! Wow, that was a trip down memory lane… back when I was on bedrest for 10 weeks due to preterm labor while pregnant with Will.

He was only born “3 weeks and 1 day early”. He has been a very healthy little boy. Now Will in a Montessori preschool and growing so fast!

Here is an update to what’s “about” me these days:

Hi, I’m Christine. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I moved here from Portland, Oregon July 2005. I have since worked at the Apple Store (where I met my husband), a yoga studio, Lululemon, DeepRoot, and TaskRabbit. I also used to teach bellydance and perform with the troupe Gypsy Caravan of Portland, Oregon.

I am now in the process of re-inventing this blog and myself as my 3.5 year old son has just transitioned into (nearly) full-time preschool.

I’m hell-bent on becoming a linchpin, living the well, rasing an awesome child, and social good. I also dream about dance and how I will revive it both in sharing the knowledge and collaborating with other dancers (both in class and in performance).

What moves you?

Yours,

Christine

Contact:
email me at: christine [at] maternityshare.com

Failing to Fail Properly

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Fail until you SUCCEED via http://fatfithealthy.tumblr.com/

I had to sweep the floor so that I could do yoga before I got started on my work. Then I had to check my email, my Facebook, and download Kickstarter gift from Beats Antique so I could have some sweet tunes to work to. But, actual my work is not getting done – and everyday this routine keeps repeating itself, the worse I feel.

Why am I stuck in a this cycle of avoidance? It SEEMS like I’m getting stuff done. But, that stuff is not what I need to get done first to show improvement in what I REALLY want to be doing.

My friend Almine posted a picture to Facebook today of a rock climber against a beautiful background so high up that only birds could (or so I would have thought) see that view. The caption was “Fail until you SUCCEED”. That image coupled with the spirit of Almine inspired me to post it on my own Facebook page so it would sit there as a reminder.

Okay, so, I know I am failing right now (because this blog post is not the work I am supposed to be doing), but, I don’t think that is what she meant by it.
In order to successfully fail I need to do my work. Put one foot in front of the other and JUST DO IT.

So, here I go. I am ending this post (which at least I can tally as writing practice) and moving on to the work I keep putting off: social media for an amazing new start up. I hope to be bold enough to post here about it here very soon.

Now, time to fail until I succeed.

Gentle Sane Respectful Bedtimes

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Bedtime is hard. And it seems to just get harder.

My son is 3 1/2 and he knows everything. He is also an expert deal maker and very stubborn (wonder who he got that from?).

Well, here’s what I aim to do about it: treat him with respect. Well, I also want to treat me with respect too… and, I know that he just won’t agree with that. At least not all of the time. But, I have to for two reasons:

  1. I am going insane because I am not asking for the respect I need in all my relationships, not just with him.
  2. He needs me to model self-respect so he can practice it too.

I am challenged by this and need to give more thought to how I will walk the self-respect road (which also means I will be working with Boundaries). Oh boy.

So, in this quest I am on the lookout for tools and inspirations to help instill a calmer transition to bedtime. Ones that will help us wind down together. Ones that support a bonding experience where we are both engaged in a peaceful activity with creative elements.

Today I came across one such tool in the form of a beautiful little iPad and iPhone app by shape-minds.com called Nighty Night! HD.

This story will be a wonderful tool for the wind-down period before bed. It is beautiful, peaceful, and simple. A very friendly narrator introduces and closes the real feature of this app: kids get to put the animals to bed! First they can play around with each animal by touching them.

I haven’t had a chance to show it wil my son yet. I will report back with his review, but I found it to be a lovely work.

I can see the potential for a custom expereince. Here are just a few ideas:

  1. CREATE A TUNE by playing around with the little sounds that are produced when you touch the three fish swimming around in their pond before you put them to sleep. (I had a lot of fun with this when I played with it.)
  2. A STORY WITHIN A STORY: You can give the animals names and make up a story about how their day went at school or whatever topic is on your child’s mind.

I recommend letting children play with this book in their own way at first, then, one-by-one, introduce ideas like the above. This gives kids the opportunity to really grow with this book (or any other book or toy) and to discover the multifaceted goodness that is there just waiting to be discovered.

I can’t wait to give Nighty Night! to my son tonight. I will bring it during our bedtime routine and present it right after bath and before we read books (the old-school paper kind).

Enjoy!

Lost Wallet – How to Protect Yourself

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I lost my wallet.

Now, I am learning all the intricacies of keeping my assets and identity safe. I am passing this along this crucial information so that you can too.

I thought I had it all covered but, when I googled what I thought was last on my list: “how do I report a stolen wallet?” (to hopefully find an easy way to do it online) I discovered a site created by the FTC that had a checklist of the things you need to do to “keep it safe”. Here are their steps to take to cover your heiny.

 

lost/stolen wallet or purse

A lost or stolen wallet or purse is a gold mine of information to identity thieves.
If your wallet or purse is missing:

  • File a report with the police immediately and keep a copy.
  • Cancel your credit, debit and ATM cards immediately.
  • Get *new* cards with *new* account numbers.
  • Call the fraud departments of the major credit reporting agencies.
  • Ask each agency to put out a fraud alert on your accounts.
  • Report the loss to the fraud department at your bank.
  • Review your credit reports regularly and have them corrected when necessary.
  • Report a missing driver’s license to your state’s department of motor vehicles.
  • If your keys are missing change the locks on your home and car.

GOOD LUCK!

~~~

Extra Reading to take care of yourself after your wallet goes AWOL:

Credit Reporting Agencies

Identity Theft

  • www.consumer.gov/idtheft
    1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338)

    The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the federal clearinghouse for complaints by victims of identity theft. Although the FTC does not have the authority to bring criminal cases, the FTC assists victims of identity theft by providing them with information to help them resolve the financial and other problems that can result from identity theft.

Favorite (and not so favorite) Things

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I find myself checking out dooce.com when I should be doing other things. Its one of my favorite ways to procrastinate online (following checking email and facebook as well as other miscellaneous sites).

Yesterday on dooce’s blog she (a.k.a. Heather Armstrong) posted her own answers to a question from Gettysburg Mom, a user on the dooce community forum. At the end of her post she asks us, her readers, what our answers are.

I was inspired to answer her question here on my own blog. Here we go:

FAVORITE THINGS about the holiday season:

-Specialy treats flavored with pumpkin, cinnamon, clove, and cardomom (but not all at once). Oh, and hot cider. Yum.

-Christmas music. I love to hear it and sing it. Will liked singing Christmas music last year and I have a hunch he will like it even more this year! (I have this fantasy that we will get all dressed up and go Christmas caroling. … that will most likely stay a fantasy unless someone else makes it happen).

-Wrapping presents. (Heather, I would wrap yours were I in town. I LOVE to wrap presents. I make them mini-works of art.)

-Christmas trees.

-Celebrating Christmas at my mom’s. She always makes the house so cozy and her Christmas trees are so lovingly decorated. Christmas is just not “Christmas” if I can’t be with her in her home.

-Watching my son’s growing love of celebration and ceremony. He loves to sing Christmas songs and he likes the stories and ritual behind it. He also loves seeing his family!

LEAST FAVORITE THINGS about the holiday season:

-Christmas shopping. I invariably shop for myself when I should be shopping for others. … I just don’t know what people want (that I can afford). … I know from my own experience that when I receive a gift that I just can’t use or don’t want to use I feel guilty and burdened. I love the thought of the gift and, I especially love looking at the wrapped version of the gift and the opening of the gift but, too seldom do I find something inside that I need or want. Sorry! (See? I feel guilty just admitting it.) I would rather receive a note with an announcement of a donation made to a community who needs water or education.

-Being cold. Moving to the San Francisco Bay Area helped out a lot in this department. (Especially now that I migrated over to the East Bay.) I would freeze my a** off in Portland, Oregon (where I moved from 6 years ago).

-Bad Christmas Music. This needs no explanation, right?

-Bad Christmas Food/Drink. You are what you eat. And I don’t want to be crap. I don’t want to feel like it either.

-Driving from the SF Bay Area to Portland. That’s how we get there (if we’re going). It was easy when Will was a baby, he would just sleep most of the way. He’s 3 now. We have to do the trip in two days to ease the many “pains” for us all involving Will’s comfort level. (Its better on our backs too.)

-Pressure and obligations. This means different things to different folks, I am sure. And it varies a bit from year to year for myself. (This could be a whole ‘nother blog post.)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Enjoy yourself and the ones you love. And, consider doing something for others whether it be a smile, or something like a donation to help build a well for a community who desperately needs water.

You choose. You always have a choice.

Rainboots Review — Keep the Kid Dry!

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Its raining outside! Will needs a new pair of boots. His last pair are nearly outgrown and covered in the goose poop that I could not bring myself to clean after our last romp at Lake Merritt in Oakland (DAMN GEESE!!!). I am embarrassed to say that the caking on of the goose poop happened his birthday weekend which was MID-JULY! I still have those boots in plastic bag. They WERE in a corner Will’s bathroom hoping for a cleaning. I recently moved them next to the front door next to a bag marked “DONATION” but, how can I in good consiounce give away goose poop encrusted boots.

Nasty.

So, since he has nearly outgrown those hand-me-downs, and since he has gotten loads of use out of them, it is time for a new pair.

I decided to get a pair that he could flex his foot in instead of the kind that kids have trouble walking around in. He’s going to be walking, running, bending down and observing treasures on the ground AND riding his Strider bike in those things. Those cheap boots with the unbending sole just won’t cut it. (Why do they make such things anyway? Is is so much to ask that manufacturers spend five more cents on making the boots with soles the cater to the actual humans who will be wearing the boots?)

I saw some sweet ones that bend, look cool and had additional features that I TRIED to talk myself into spending the money on. I even went so far as to ask papa B if it was an unreasonable amount to spend on a pair of footwear that a 3 year old will outgrow in about a year (unless there is a growth spurt that will render them useless to us next season). Papa B’s response: “you could buy 3 pairs for that amount”. So, I have decided to to go for a “middle of the road” pair. – FINE!

So I went to zappos.com and searched “rainboots boys” and sorted them by price from “lowest to highest” price. Here is the result.

How about these Fire Chief boots from Zappos.com? $26.95

But these dino boots look even MORE flexible and, super cute to boot. $35.00! That is only $5 less than the extra technical ones I really wanted.

Dream boots:

Wear the forest! (Aslo available in black.) Awesome technical boots: http://www.zappos.com/bogs-kids-classic-high-no-handles-toddler-youth-mossy-oak $68! Gulp!

Cute cute cute and no-nonsense: http://www.zappos.com/hunter-kids-kids-first-toddler-youth-yellow $50 comes in other fun colors.

Close contenders:

This one has a drawstring at the top! KEEP OUT: Rain & Snow! And, its a bit cheaper: $37.50. But, will the sole flex? http://www.zappos.com/tundra-kids-boots-husky-toddler-black-black

Love how HIGH these boots reach up the leg. Stay out nasty puddle water! http://www.zappos.com/kamik-kids-stomp-infant-toddler-youth-black~1?zlfid=111&recoName=zap_pdp_sub

This one has the highest customer rating, and I see loads of kids wearing this type of boot. I have tested the flexibilty factor in a store and approved of it! The only problem is they don’t have Will’s size. $27: http://www.zappos.com/western-chief-kids-frog-rainboot-infant-toddler-youth-green-frog . BONUS! Matching cute-overload raincoat: http://www.zappos.com/western-chief-kids-frog-raincoat-toddler-little-kids-green?zlfid=111&recoName=zap_pdp_sub

RECYCLEABLE BOOTS! And they are HIGH, and they have Trek sole, AND a shark pattern. AND they are close to the cheap goal at a modest $31.00: http://www.zappos.com/kamik-kids-sharks-infant-toddler-youth-green?zlfid=111&recoName=zap_pdp_sub